Itinerant Air-Cooled Greetings From New Jersey
Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2018 5:51 pm
Let's just say that it was an exquisite delight to lose myself in the work at hand. Such a relief to just deal with what is in front of us. And we had plenty in front of us. This beautiful 1971 Westy here with a fresh rebuilt transaxle was *towed* to this spot because it refused to select any gear but 3rd. Last year we had just installed the rebuild with our pint-sized list-making supervisor keeping is diligently focused:
viewtopic.php?f=76&t=13334#p225355
Well, this year we had TWO supervisors. Isn't that the way it always goes?
We started the day by inspecting the parameters of our hacktastic kustom-fab shift rod procedure. Appetite had discovered that the early shift rod guide pin had not only broken off but plumb disappeared. That is why the shifter would not select a gear:
We came up with a pretty good guide pin. It used to be a 2" long m10 bolt before we beheaded it and used the threaded end to double-nut bolt it up to the bracket where the old pin used to be welded to it. We had to drill it out carefully with a lot of other parts in the way, but appetite's punky drill bit collection and battery-powered drill just chewed right through. Tested the throw of the shift rod to make sure it could still move forward with a locknut now taking up residence at the bracket. Just just just made it:
I think it looks great. Better yet, it drove well:
The supervisors of course demanded the opportunity to see how we did. Well, the shifting was fine, but the engine needed a little tweaking as this year it seems to be saying that it liked the vacuum retard we took off last summer because it didn't like it then. Then we checked the front brakes and wheel bearings while our supervisors took their three-hour lunch and trip to some zoo (must be nice to be a supervisor). Such a fine bus and a beautiful family . . .
Next day was Skip and his 1977 Westfalia with that beautiful cabinetry and South African steering wheel, but we barely even test drove it. No, we had to of course sit down and have a cup of coffee and thoroughly immerse in another conversation about God and Religion. Yeah we do that every year. See, this year God and I have been having a little argument since July 9th or so, and I am in no mood to talk all beatifically about that Creator of Rain and More Rain and Humidity and Pesky Biting Bugs. Anyways, we came to an agreement that televangelists are skating on mighty thin ice (see, this metaphor thing keeps eluding me). But we were there to get the Thing running. And we did. And it would not idle. And we disassembled the carburetor there under the deck:
This Thing thing is actually a pretty good example with original engine decals:
Alas, the carburetor, a German Solex 34 Pict3, did not want to idle even after we cleaned out the pilot jet. So ... I turned it out barely a quarter turn and stuck it in place with some Loctite and then it did idle. Skip is on it. Volksbitz rebuild coming up, I believe. Great to visit with you, Skip.
Had a Whole Deep Fatigue Sit On The Stoop, then gathered myself together, battled the horrendous frenetic hurrying New Jersey traffic, horrible roads, rain, and more rain, and, and well, well, I drove to Saint Louis. We're calling it Walkabout.
viewtopic.php?f=76&t=13334#p225355
Well, this year we had TWO supervisors. Isn't that the way it always goes?
We started the day by inspecting the parameters of our hacktastic kustom-fab shift rod procedure. Appetite had discovered that the early shift rod guide pin had not only broken off but plumb disappeared. That is why the shifter would not select a gear:
We came up with a pretty good guide pin. It used to be a 2" long m10 bolt before we beheaded it and used the threaded end to double-nut bolt it up to the bracket where the old pin used to be welded to it. We had to drill it out carefully with a lot of other parts in the way, but appetite's punky drill bit collection and battery-powered drill just chewed right through. Tested the throw of the shift rod to make sure it could still move forward with a locknut now taking up residence at the bracket. Just just just made it:
I think it looks great. Better yet, it drove well:
The supervisors of course demanded the opportunity to see how we did. Well, the shifting was fine, but the engine needed a little tweaking as this year it seems to be saying that it liked the vacuum retard we took off last summer because it didn't like it then. Then we checked the front brakes and wheel bearings while our supervisors took their three-hour lunch and trip to some zoo (must be nice to be a supervisor). Such a fine bus and a beautiful family . . .
Next day was Skip and his 1977 Westfalia with that beautiful cabinetry and South African steering wheel, but we barely even test drove it. No, we had to of course sit down and have a cup of coffee and thoroughly immerse in another conversation about God and Religion. Yeah we do that every year. See, this year God and I have been having a little argument since July 9th or so, and I am in no mood to talk all beatifically about that Creator of Rain and More Rain and Humidity and Pesky Biting Bugs. Anyways, we came to an agreement that televangelists are skating on mighty thin ice (see, this metaphor thing keeps eluding me). But we were there to get the Thing running. And we did. And it would not idle. And we disassembled the carburetor there under the deck:
This Thing thing is actually a pretty good example with original engine decals:
Alas, the carburetor, a German Solex 34 Pict3, did not want to idle even after we cleaned out the pilot jet. So ... I turned it out barely a quarter turn and stuck it in place with some Loctite and then it did idle. Skip is on it. Volksbitz rebuild coming up, I believe. Great to visit with you, Skip.
Had a Whole Deep Fatigue Sit On The Stoop, then gathered myself together, battled the horrendous frenetic hurrying New Jersey traffic, horrible roads, rain, and more rain, and, and well, well, I drove to Saint Louis. We're calling it Walkabout.